Transportation infrastructure in Seattle has not kept up with growth. And recent developments, e.g., Move Seattle, the Pronto bike-sharing decision, and upcoming discussions/votes on Sound Transit 3, have not made it clear how we will address this infrastructure in a coordinated way.

Last year, the transportation levy to support the Mayor’s Move Seattle plan won the support of a majority of Seattle voters. It will be important to watch how this 9‑year plan is implemented to provide improved transit, walking, biking, and freight mobility.

More recently, the Seattle City Council voted to approve a buy-out of the financially failing Pronto bike-sharing program (https://www.prontocycleshare.com/)—even though we do not yet have a safe integrated system of bike paths in the City. Several City Councilmembers also want to expand the program to include electric bikes. We need to watch how our City spends millions of dollars on this program.

Currently, a draft is available for review of the $50 billion Sound Transit 3 long-range plan to extend light rail from Everett to Tacoma, to the Eastside, and with links from downtown to Ballard and West Seattle (http://soundtransit3.org/draft-plan#map). Voters will be asked to approve the plan in November 2016. Comments on the current draft are due by April 29, 2016.

Additionally, many people believe that developers should be required to pay impact fees, which were suggested in the Washington State Growth Management Act to address infrastructure needs (bridges, roads, transportation, schools, parks, and utilities) associated with new development. Seattle chose not to impose these fees back in the 1990’s, but it’s not too late. Can we bring impact fees to the City of Seattle?